State Sponsored Mass in Italy

My heart and prayers go out to the victims of the earthquake in Italy last week. As I listened to the news about the tragedy I started to think about the tragedy and its aftermath in terms of Christ and Culture.

What interested me was the Mass held for the victims. The Mass was sponsored by the Italian Government. What struck me was that the funeral service sided with one particular perspective in Christianity- Roman Catholicism- rather than a more ecumenical perspective like we might have in the United States.

This reminded me that my attitude toward the Separation of Church and State is not held in other parts of the world. In the United States a “state sponsored” event like this wouldn’t be a “Mass” but a “memorial service.” Sure a Priest would probably be invited but the service would remain less sectarian.

Then I realized what was “less sectarian” to me was extraordinarily Protestant to people in a predominantly Roman Catholic country. This illustrates an important point in understanding Christ of Culture- that “secular services” will reflect the culture. In the United States, secular services are more Protestant. In Italy they are more Roman Catholic.